Beyond Aero, a French pioneer of hydrogen-powered electric aircraft, has just successfully raised $20 million, bringing its capital to 44M$. A new step towards the production, by 2030, of a 6 to 8-seater business jet. A small revolution in sight in aeronautics and for the climate.
This time the take-off of the Toulouse start-up is confirmed, the moon is not far away. Young French shoot and pioneer of hydrogen-powered business aviation, the Toulouse start-up Beyond Aero has just successfully completed a decisive funding round, raising $20 million to launch its ambitious program: aligning on tarmacs around the world, from 2030, the first business jets running on hydrogen.
5 times more autonomy than with conventional electric motors
In this case, the project lined up on the runway is called "One", 6 to 8-seater planes, powered by an electric engine powered by hydrogen and capable of traveling 800 miles (nearly 1300 km) at 575 km/h and therefore without CO2 emissions. 800 miles is five times more autonomy than aircraft operating on conventional electric batteries.
The start-up was created in 2020 by three engineers passionate about aeronautics – Eloa Guillotin, Hugo Tarlé and Valentin Chome – all eager to address climate challenges by creating clean aircraft. Less than 4 years later, in February 2024, it had successfully completed two test flights on a prototype, the first manned flight in history on a fully hydrogen-electric aircraft. A performance that earned him several awards, including the Brilliant Minds and the Sustainable Aviation Challenge from the World Economic Forum.
Mastering hydrogen and fuel cell technology
With $12 million already invested in building the world's most efficient hydrogen-electric propulsion laboratory, Beyond Aero is now working to optimize its propulsion system, integrating hydrogen tanks, fuel cells and cooling systems to achieve an engine power of 600 kWThis laboratory will enable advanced testing and safety validations essential for the development and approval of hydrogen-electric aircraft.
Soon 90 leading engineers
It has ample means to do so today, with offices in Toulouse, Paris and Los Angeles, a team of more than 50 highly qualified engineers from major aerospace companies, who will soon be joined by 40 others.
Eloa Guillotin, CEO of Beyond Aero, was of course delighted with the success of the fundraising, declaring: "We have formed a powerful alliance of European and American investors". An alliance that will therefore allow the very successful young French company to continue its growth and reach the moon within the announced deadlines.
Already 108 pre-orders
Beyond Aero’s “One” model, expected to hit the market by 2030, represents a five-times longer-lasting alternative to battery-electric aircraft, producing only water as a byproduct. Early adopters include entrepreneurs, celebrities, and businesses such as airlines and charter operators.
For the record, Business aviation accounts for 2.61% of global air traffic, which is to say that the development prospects are colossal for the Toulouse company which continues to accelerate and prides itself on having already received letters of intent for the purchase of 108 aircraft for an amount of 914 M$! The target is vast: billionaires, businessmen, large companies and administrations and specialized transport platforms.
